I have heard that giving raw hide to your dog is dangerous. Is this true? I give my dog one every week.
2006-08-17 02:56:27 · 21 answers · asked by feline 3 in Pets ➔ Dogs
I've worked in the pet food/supply business for years and have had so much experience with bones/rawhide. Here are the things to think about:
-the general rule these days is to not feed rawhide. Rawhide does not digest well, can swell in the dogs throat and get stuck, or can even go undigested and cause obstructions in the dogs intestines....which means huge vet bills. Dogs do love rawhide but why sacrifice their health.
-Bones are excellent as a treat for dogs and can be great for cleaning their teeth. Stay AWAY from pork, chicken, fish, and go with beef as beef are the strongest. When choosing which beef bones to go with, choose a smoked bone like a Crown Knucke (the hip bone), Tarter Busters (the knee cap) or Marrow Bones (tend to be the centre part of the beef leg bone). These bones are strong, dogs love them, and are great for their teeth.
-Do not use raw bones as they can be potentially harmful as they may carry Salmonella and make your dog extremely sick.
So, a nice strong smoked beef bone is the way to go.
2006-08-17 03:04:19 · answer #1 · answered by PAWS 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They can be dangerous because as the dogs chew on them, they can break off into little pieces that can cause the dog to choke or can lodge in the intestine and create an obstruction. Many dogs eat them frequently and have no problems, but I've lost 2 dogs this way, so I won't even allow a rawhide in my house.
2006-08-17 10:04:16 · answer #2 · answered by little_beth85 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes and no. I give my dogs rawhides all the time. My jack russel mix is a chewer and if I don't watch her she'll chew them up to where they can be swallowed. I had to pull one out of her throat once cause she was choking on it. I always keep an eye on her when they start to get small then I take it away before she tries to swallow it.
I started buying the ones that didn't have the twists on the end. Just the long straight ones and she hasn't had that happen since.
2006-08-17 10:29:47 · answer #3 · answered by Hillary1034 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are usually ok, but yes they can cause problems. If your dog chews off and swallows large pieces, they can swell and cause a blockage. Rawhide swells when it gets wet, and with dogs who eat it rather than chew it, it can be fatal. There are several types that are safer, like the ground up and reshaped kind. If you do give your dog rawhide, supervise them and remove the toy when it gets small enough to be swallowed. Many, many people use rawhide with no problems, BTW, but it is good to know what could happen!
2006-08-17 10:10:49 · answer #4 · answered by jenn_a 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think there are good sides and bad sides to giving it to them. I have a giant schnauzer and he chews on it till it gets soft then swallows the thing whole. Its dangerous that way because then his body has a hard time digesting it and sometimes he get sick and throws up from it. We stopped giving him rawhide and look for different treats. But there are some dogs that tolerate it very well.
2006-08-17 10:03:41 · answer #5 · answered by lisa46151 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would avoid rawhide. (the white kind) The material isn't very digestive. They start off hard and get really mushy. If your dog does bite off a decent size chunk and swallows... if it doesn't pass. It will cost you about $2000 to have it surgically removed. Instead of rawhide. I give my dog actual pigs hoofs. (the foot cut off at the ankle. looks gross but he sure loves it and takes him a while to eat.) They are more fleshy not processed like rawhide. Plus the actual hoof (toenail part) keeps him occupied for weeks. and keeps his teeth nice and clean also. You can go to petsupplies plus for these "feet n hoofs" they only cost $2 and sooooo much safer than rawhide.
2006-08-17 10:26:51 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
rawhide isn't "dangerous". it could prove to be a choking hazard, but as long as the dog doesnt' get five a day , it shouldn't upset his digestive tract.
some rawhide, however, is cured with formaldyhyde, so be careful. this isnt' a common practice anymore, but some countries still do it. If you're in the US, buy only American rawhide, it's not treated with formaldyhyde.
2006-08-17 10:04:57 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Never heard it was dangerous. The only problem I have with it is when my boxer chews it so much that the whole thing fits in his mouth, he tries to swallow it whole. I just take it away and give him a new one. Having him chew on the rawhide is better than him chewing on my shoes or furniture!!
2006-08-17 10:05:36 · answer #8 · answered by redhead70070 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I dont think it is bad. I use to give my dogs raw hides alll the time.
2006-08-17 10:02:14 · answer #9 · answered by Aspen C 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
no. But I heard Greenies is addicting to dogs. Most of the places that board Animals for when u go on vacation or whatever say you can bring any toys you want except for greenies
2006-08-17 10:02:48 · answer #10 · answered by hicksvilleny 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋